Pakistan

Imran Khan opposes holding PSL final in Lahore

'This is madness...what's the point of holding the PSL final in Lahore?', says PTI chairman

News Desk February 27, 2017

PTI chairman Imran Khan. PHOTO: REUTERS

Minutes after Punjab government announced holding the Pakistan Super League final in Lahore on March 5, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan opposed the decision, terming it “madness”.

"God forbid, if any blast takes place in Lahore, there will be no cricket in Pakistan in the next 10 years," he told Nadeem Malik on SAMAA TV.

"This is madness considering the situation here" he said, referring to the series of bomb blasts which rocked Pakistan. "What's the point of holding the PSL final in Lahore? It isn't even an international match."

It's final. PSL final to be held in Lahore

The PTI leader added, "In my view, it is a terrible idea. We want to hold this match by calling in army and blocking roads and there will be high security. This will not send a good message.”

The decision to play the final fixture in the Punjab capital was put on a hold following a string of bomb blasts and suicide attacks hit the country, particularly Lahore, killing over 100 people.

COMMENTS (14)

Ehtasham | 7 years ago | Reply this match will do more good to PMLN govt than to pakistan cricket.... No Foreign media, No foreign players, gridlocked city..... wht r we expecting from this... meanwhile our all attention and efforts shouldbe on successful execution of recently launched operation rather being distracted by this show off...

Paki | 7 years ago | Reply Khan Sb., statement can be debated for being right or wrong, but it's definitely with ill intentions. He delivered his brilliant ideas immediately after governments announcement that final will be held in Lahore. if he was so clear about his stance, he should have spoke about it while this decicion was under consideration. In case government would have decided not to have final in Lahore, Khan Sb would have been thrashing government for utter failure.

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Raheel | 7 years ago | Reply Khan sb! We always support you but this time around we differ. Its a matter of prestige and honor for Pakistanis.

ToThePoint | 7 years ago | Reply So what is the main objective of the terrorists? To spread insecurity and hinder all sorts of activities in Pakistan, which in turn will pull down the social fabric of the country and ultimately lead to its collapse. Judging by IK's statement, they might have just had their way.

Yasser | 7 years ago | Reply Strongly agreed with Imran.

Aalia | 7 years ago | Reply Less than a week ago he wanted final to happen in Lahore. What has he been smoking?

Arfan Asghar Ali Haidery | 7 years ago | Reply I support Imran khan

Arfan Asghar Ali Haidery | 7 years ago | Reply I m agree wit Imran Khan , if some thing happens then who is gonna be responsible. If u want to send a step message then why only final, why not whole series?.

Khalid Saeed | 7 years ago | Reply @M.S.: what about if for God forbid something goes wrong?

M.S. | 7 years ago | Reply Imran is never right. This match is going to be a slap on the face of terrorists and their supporters. Imran is already feeling it.

Majid Ali | 7 years ago | Reply IK is right why take risk for a match similar to domestic cricket? This is not even international event. No big player is agree to come then what is the point? when IK gave statement in few weeks back he want whole PSL in Pakistan? Where ware all these Noora supporters? You like it or not this is the reality we are not ready to arrange any international event....first fix domestic infrastructure and make law and order better then expect any international event What we have achieved fro Zimbabwe matches????

Faisal Shaikh | 7 years ago | Reply Agreed. All restaurants in that area will be closed till March 5th ointment that area. Wat non sense

Israr | 7 years ago | Reply When you have to organize a sporting event by deploying all security resources, you are not showing the world you are safe but you are actually highlighting your vulnerability. Totally wrong message being sent to the world that we need military security and a curfew-like situation to hold a 3-hours event.

Khan | 7 years ago | Reply Totally agree with him .. We used to have bilateral series in whole Pakistan in the 1990s because we had peace .. we could hold music festivals openly and regularly .. first start doing that and then cricket will come back without forced invitation.

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